Sheikha Asma Al Thani of Qatar is a trailblazer for women in the region. She’s a member of the ruling family of Qatar and is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Qatar Olympic Committee. Reaching new heights, literally and figuratively, she also became the first Qatari woman to summit Mount Everest. Here, GRAZIA tells you everything you need to know about the pioneering Sheikha.
Mount Everest Summit
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain peak in the world and Sheikha Asma Al Thani became the first woman from Qatar to reach its top, standing at a height of 8,849 metres above sea level. Recognised for her contributions to youth work by HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali, Minister of Sports and Youth, she earned herself the GCC Excellence Decoration. Moreover, the mountaineer challenged antiquated gender-related barriers, as well as demonstrated to young minds how to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Al Thani and her team travelled 210 kilometres over the course of a month and ten days to eventually get to the top of the world’s highest peak. Adidas gave Sheikha Asma and her team the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup Qatar at the start of her adventure. Known as “Al Rihla,” which translates to “the journey,” the gift was with her throughout her Mount Everest climb. Inspired by Qatar’s culture, architecture, famous boats and flag, Al Rihla was the first Arabic match ball used in the World Cup. It was also Adidas’ fourteenth consecutive ball made for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
For Al Thani, climbing Everest is just the beginning of her adventure journey. As she works to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam, she hopes to inspire and motivate women.
Partnership with UNHCR
After reaching the summit of Mount Everest in June 2022, Sheikha Asma Al Thani remarked, “As I pushed my limits and struggled to reach the top, I couldn’t help but think of the millions of refugees who embark on dangerous journeys to reach safety.” At the summit of K2 in July 2022, Al Thani declared, “I am climbing for the tens of millions of refugees and forcibly displaced people around the world.”
The UNHCR and Sheikha Asma partnered just prior to her Antarctic winter expedition. She ascended Mount Vinson, the highest peak in the South Pole, at the start of 2022. No other Arab has accomplished climbing the four highest summits in the world—Mt. Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga and Lhotse—in less than two months.
Sheikha Asma waved the UNHCR flag at each peak she visited in an effort to show support for refugees and to fight for their rights.
a PLETHORA of Achievements
Boasting a long list of achievements, the Sheikha is an inspiration to all women in the region. In 2012, she reached the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro to help raise QR 2 million for building schools in Gaza. She was the first Qatari to reach the North Pole on April 21 2018. After skiing for eight days, she raised the Qatari flag at the top of the North Pole. Additionally, she was one of the first Qatari women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Moreover, she was the first Qatari woman to climb Mount Aconcagua. She achieved this in early 2020 with a climbing expedition to the peak.
Achieving the impossible, she was the first Arab person to summit an eight-thousander without oxygen on her ascent of Manaslu. She is also the first Arab and first Qatari woman to be part of the Leaders Under 40 Class of 2018. She was selected out of hundreds of individuals to be part of the class of 2018. Impressive is an uderstatement.
